Blockadia: Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground!

A Map of Resistance against Fossil Fuels for Climate Justice

Whilst global leaders have been discussing climate action for decades, the fossil fuel industry has been allowed to continue to compromise the livelihoods and environments in localities as well as contributing to the unprecedented and increasingly catastrophic changes we are seeing in our global climate.On every continent there is an increasing frequency and intensity of resistance movements against fossil fuel projects. These interwoven spaces of resistance are Blockadia. Originating from movements such as the Ogoni People against Shell in the Niger Delta since the 1990s and the Yasuni initiative in Ecuador to leave the oil in the soil, local people and activists are demanding we keep fossil fuels in the ground. Today there are diverse and widespread resistances such as the Ende Gelände mass civil disobedience in Germany; the indigenous-led Standing Rock camp against the Dakota Access Pipeline; the movement in Kenya to “deCOALanize”; and, amongst many others, the campaigns #BreakFree and #SaveTheArctic.

Naomi Klein popularized the term Blockadia in the book "This Changes Everything" describing the “roving transnational conflict zone [...] where ‘regular’ people are stepping in where our leaders are failing” along the whole fossil fuel chain, from extraction to transportation to combustion. These struggles are not only against the local impacts of such projects, but also against their impacts on the climate. What the Blockadia Map aims to do is bring together incidences of Blockadia-style resistances against fossil fuels along the whole chain. Included in the Blockadia Map are cases from the Environmental Justice Atlas which involve people defending their land, livelihoods and climate from fossil fuel projects, through direct action such as blockades, occupations and street protests. By bringing together inspiring case studies, the diversity of the movements can be celebrated whilst the connectivity between them can be strengthened and the real ‘glocal’ threats of fossil fuel extractivism can be better understood. The local causes of resistance vary case by case, but many include the violation of human rights, contamination of water, land dispossession, loss of livelihoods, poor working conditions, biodiversity loss, cultural loss, severe health impacts and inadequate compensation. The Blockadia Map serves as a tool for activists to unite their struggles and build a stronger movement against the multitude of injustices presented by fossil fuel projects. When we come together in acts of defiance, our struggles become part of a bigger movement. Just as these resistances are real spaces where people and causes are connected, the Blockadia Map is a space for movement-building and international solidarity.

Besides getting an overview of all the different kinds of resistances and direct action all over the world, the Blockadia Map also highlight the spatial mal-distribution of climate change sources and its impacts. Explore the Blockadia Map with the extra features of 'Fossil Fuels Extraction pr. Capita', 'Climate Change Vulnerability' and 'CO2 Emissions pr. Capita', click on the vectors to get additional data on each country.

The Blockadia Map is an ongoing project, and the team welcomes new cases. Get in touch at [email protected].

The Blockadia team is co-ordinated by Alice Owen and Daria Rivin, Student Researchers at Lund University/ICTA-UAB, and Ende Gelände activists. The research team also consists of Andrea Cardoso of Universidad del Magdalena, Colombia, and Brototi Roy and Daniela del Bene, PhD candidates at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. The Blockadia Map is part of the EnvJustice Project http://www.envjustice.org/.

Achuar and Shuar against oil extraction, EcuadorResistance: As a result of the Archuar and Shuar indigenous strong opposition, the block 24 was declared under state of emergency in 2001. In 2008, all the concessions (blocks 7, 21, 23, 24) from the oil company Burlington were expropriated by the Ecuadorian government.Start Date: 1998EJO's: Accion Ecologica, Pachamama, CDES, Amazonwatch (US), Friends of the Earth (US), CEOLS- Central Ecuatoriana de Organizaciones Sindicales Libres.Companies: Arco Oriente Inc., Burlington Resources Ecuador Limited

Anti-fracking uprising in Ain Salah, AlgeriaResistance: Over 40,000 people including students, women and the unemployed took part in protests and occupations against fracking. Some lasted over 5 months despite brutal repression. They called for energy democracy rather than groundwater contmination and corrupt politics. Start Date: 01/01/2015Companies: Sonatrach , Total, Halliburton, Algeria’s National Oil Corporation, British Petroleum

Atlantic Coast Natural Gas Pipeline. Virginia, USA Resistance: Local grassroots coalitions protested the new pipeline by blockading the offices of the energy company, and landowners attempted to block surveyors from entering their property. They were concerned about oil spills and accidents as well as the climate, and called to "Put People Over Pipelines".Start Date: 02/01/2015EJO's: Richmond Resistance
Free NelsonCompanies: Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas

Batang coal fired power plant, Central Java, IndonesiaResistance: The construction delayed due to four years of community protest and opposition to the project’s development. In May 2016 about 3,500 people staged a protest in the capital. Organized by environmental groups, the protest began in front of the Japanese Embassy, where the participants demanded that Japan drop the 2,000-megawatt project, before marching to the presidential palace. Greenpeace Indonesia said the power plant will pump 10.8 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere a year, as well as air pollutants including neurotoxins such as mercury that could bring deadly consequences to Indonesia's environmental and human health. Despite these serious impacts, opposition is repressed and some demonstrators have been jailed.Start Date: 2011EJO's: Greenpeace Indonesia
Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Semarang, a legal aid organization
Friends of the Earth JapanCompanies: PT Bhimasena Power Indonesia, J-Power , Itochu Corporation, Adaro Power

Offshore Oil drilling, Belize Resistance: An official “People’s Referendum” took place on the 29th Feb 2012, in which 90% of the Belizeans voted against offshore exploration and drilling. In 2013, Belize’s Supreme Court declared offshore drilling contracts issued by the Government of Belize in 2004 and 2007 invalid, because no Environmental Impact Assessment had been carried out. However, in 2015, the government of Belize reconsidered initiating offshore drilling although up to 2017 no new concession has been granted yet.Start Date: 2011EJO's: OCEANA, The Belize Coalition to Save Our National Heritage, Liberty and Action, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action (COLA),Companies: Prince Petroleum

Castor Project Gas off-shore storage in Vinaròs, SpainResistance: To secure gas provision to Europe, Spain is becoming the gate of natural gaz from Northern Africa. Megaprojects, financiarization of infrastructure, energy oligopoly, environmental impacts and impunity for the damages created are some of the ingredients of this gaz storage facility. Since February 2010, the Plataforma en Defensa de les Terres del Sénia denounced before the EC the Castor project because no Environmental Impact Assessment had been made to assess the environmental implications of the project. Other groups in Spain joint the platform in denouncing the plant and in working for a different energy model. Start Date: 2007EJO's: Plataforma en Defensa de les Terres del Sénia, Ecologistas en acciónCompanies: Castor Limited Partnership, Dundee Energy Limited, Grupo ACS

Coal fired power plants, Batangas, PhilippinesResistance: The anti-coal march of 2016 highlighted a national campaign called “Piglas Batangas! Piglas Pilipinas!” symbolized by the struggle against the proposed 600-megawatt coal plant of JG Summit Holdings in Barangay (Village) Pinamucan Ibaba, Batangas City. The opposition to the plan is led by the Lipa Archdiocesan Ministry on Environment, local fisherfolk, and other concerned citizens.Start Date: 2015EJO's: Catholic Church (Archdiocesan Ministry on Environment (AMEN)
Greenpeace
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
Health Care Without HarmCompanies: JG Summit Holdings Inc

Resistance to coal stockpiling leads to Gloria Capitan's murder, Bataan, PhilippinesResistance: In a country where the majority of coal projects are owned by big businesses and influencial people who have connections in the government, protesters and local defenders face violence and even death for standing up for climate justice, as was the case for Gloria Capitan, the 57 year old activist, and one of the leaders of the Coal-Free Bataan Movement.Start Date: 2015EJO's: - United Citizens of Lucanin Association (Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan ng Lucanin)
- Coal-Free Bataan Movement
- Philippines Movement for Climate Justice
- Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED)
- Archdiocesan Movement for the Environment (AMEn)
- Kilusan Para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KILUSAN)
-GreenpeaceCompanies: Sea Front Shipyard Services, Inc., Aboitiz Power Corp

Coal Power Plant in Lamu, KenyaResistance: The community group "Save Lamu" and their international supporters have been mobilising against the opening of a new coal power plant, which still remains to be constructed. The Lamu case has also become part of the growing nationwide "deCOALanize Kenya" movement. Start Date: 2015EJO's:Save Lamu
Muhuri
Sierra Club
UNESCO World Heritage
350.orgCompanies: Amu Power, Centum Investment Group, Gulf Energy Ltd, Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina)

Native American´s Sioux against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), USAResistance: 10,000 people joined the camp at Standing Rock to defend the ancestral land of the Sioux from the Dakota Access Pipeline. Supporters were diverse, including US Army veterans and Indigenous groups historically enemies of the Sioux Nation as well as environmental activists. Around the world activists also held street demonstrations and actions in solidarity with Standing Rock, calling to"Honor the Treaties", "Defend the Sacred" and recognise "Mni Wiconi, Water is Life" alongside the climatic implications of fossil fuels. Start Date: 06/2016EJO's: EJOS: Great Sioux Nation,
Supporters: National Congress of American Indians, Greenpeace; Science & Environmental Health Network; Sierra Club; Black Lives Matter (BLM),Companies: Energy Transfer Crude Oil Company, Dakota Access, LLC, Phillips 66, Enbridge Energy Partners LP (EEP), Marathon Petroleum Corporation

Elsipogtog First Nation v. Fracking, NB, CanadaResistance: Part of the wave of "Idle No More" Indigenous activism, members of Elsipogtog First Nation and other activists held a three month blockade near a highway junction to symbolise a new boundary for fracking. EJO's: Mikmaq nation, Idle No More, The Kahnawake Warrior Society, Miqmaq Warrior Society, Council of Canadians, Conservation Council of New BrunswickCompanies: Southwestern Energy Resources

Exploratory fracking in Balcombe, UKResistance: "Frack Off!": After immense social pressure and direct action against fracking, the energy company, Cuadrilla withdrew their application to extend drilling and horizontal well testing at a site near Balcombe in England. Start Date: 2011EJO's: No Fracking in Balcombe Society, No Dash for Gas, Frack off, Disabled people against the cuts, Fuel Poverty Action, Sussex Extreme Energy Resistance, Gasfield Free Sussex, Lewes Against Fracking, Ribble Estuary Against FrackingCompanies: Cuadrilla

Fuleni blockade and leave the coal in the hole campaign, South AfricaResistance: Angry but well-behaved, over 1000 Fuleni residents made a road blockade to stop vehicles entering the proposed coal mine on the edge of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi wilderness reserve. These people are already feeling the effects of climate change, and fear the death and suffering experienced by nearby mining-affected communities Start Date: 01/01/2014EJO's: MCEJO - Mfolozi Community Environmental Justice Organisation
CCS (University of Durban)
The Wilderness Foundation, The Global Environmental Trust, The Wilderness Action Group, The African Conservation Trust, The Magqubu Ntombela Foundation, the Game Rangers Association of Africa, the South African Trust for Protected Areas, Project Rhino KZN, the Makhado Action Group, Mining Affected Communities United in Action. The list is growing. International supporters include The Gaia Foundation, WILD – USA, the Wilderness Specialist Group of IUCNI, SFO/USA, the World Wilderness CongressCompanies: Ibutho Coal

Opposition to oil&gas exploitation, New ZealandResistance: Workers and environmentalists ally to oppose prospections and deep shore drilling by oil giants Chevron, Statoil and Shell. They reject use of national resources for private profits. Start Date: 0000EJO's: Members of the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) ;
International Transport Workers Federation (ITF);
GreenpeaceCompanies: Statoil, Chevron Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell

Hainan residents against construction of coal-fired power plant, ChinaResistance: After the approval of the plant, around 10,000 residents of the Chinese Hainan province organized a protest in Ledong county against the construction of the coal-fired power plant. They arrived for the opening event held to kickstart the construction work of the plant on 12 March 2012 and also closed their local shops and businesses to protest the construction. Protests lasted several days. Local residents were concerned that the potential sea pollution caused by such a plant could affect their fishing stocks and farmland. Clashes occurred between riot police and protesters.The Hong Kong-based human rights group, Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, stated that 50 people had been arrested and almost 100 injured during the protests.Start Date: 01/11/2011EJO's:Information Center for Human Rights & Democracy (Hong-Kong based): http://www.hkhkhk.com/english/indexen.htmlCompanies: China Power Investment Corporation (CPI)

Huaneng Haimen coal-fired power station, ChinaResistance: In Dec 2011, when plans were announced to expand the coal-fired Huaneng Haimen power station situated in Haimen, thousands of protesters blocked a freeway and tried to occupy government offices and block an expressway in an attempt to block the project and halt the expansion. They were met with tear gas while an unconfirmed number of protesters were also detained by the police. In a reaction to the uprising, local officials offered the protesters to temporarily suspend the proposed expansion of the Huaneng Haimen power station, but demonstrators continued their efforts to demand that expansion plans should be scrapped altogether. Tensions finally cooled before Christmas 2011, when the plant expansion plans were indeed temporarily suspended by national Party officials and authorities agreed to release protesters detained during the clashes. In 2014, protests re-emerged and twelve people were arrested for blocking a road leading to the plant for disturbing public order. After expansion plans were temporarily put on hold due to the protests in 2011, two additional coal-fired units were finally completed in 2013, bringing the power station's capacity up to a total of 4,144 MWStart Date: 20/12/2011Companies: China Huaneng Group

Hydraulic fracking in the Karoo, South AfricaResistance: Local farmers and diverse South African citizens are concerned about the impacts of fracking on their lands and the climate, and have organisd street demonstrations. This is is part of a large and ongoing public debate about fracking. Start Date: 12/2010EJO's: Derek Light (attorney based in Graaff-Reinet, representing over 300 landowners and communities), TKAG (Treasure the Karoo Action Group; Jonathan Deal), Fractual (Ian Perrin), Earthlife Africa (Muna Lakhani), WWF (Saliem Fakir), WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of SA), CJN!SA network, Centre for Environmental Rights, Western Cape Wildlife and Environment Society, Southern Cape Land Committee, Agri-SA (commercial farmers lobby)Companies: Royal Dutch Shell, Falcon Oil and Gas, Bundu Gas and Oil, Anglo American, Statoil, Chesapeake Energy, Sasol

Kwale-Okpai CDM Project, NigeriaResistance: Preventing gas flaring has been supported as a "Clean Development Mechanism", causing those locally and internationally to protest as this does not go far enough in stopping the local and global devastation caused by oil drilling in the Niger delta, and does not meet demands of Climate Justice. Start Date: 2005EJO's: Environmental Rights Action, Friends of the Earth, Social Action, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)Companies: Royal Dutch Shell, Nigeria Agip Oil Company, Phillip Oil, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation

Limits to lignite mining, Horní Jiřetín, Czech RepublicResistance: The town of Horní Jiřetín became a stronghold of the resistance to the plans of extension of the Czechoslovak Army mine. Together with villagers from several places, civil society groups organized referenda and a broad coalition called Limity jsme my - We are the limits. The movement networked with international climate justice movement. In June 2017 it organized the first Czech international climate camp in Horní Jiřetín. During the climate camp participants entered the coal mine Bílina and thus blocked the operations for a day.EJO's:Limity jsme my - https://limityjsmemy.cz/
Greenpeace - http://www.greenpeace.org/czech/cz/
Kořeny - http://www.koreny.cz/Companies: Severní energetická, Severočeské doly

Lignite mining and the Ende Gelände movement, GermanyResistance: Several years in a row activists as many as up to 6000 have organised themselves in the massive direct action against lignite mining in Germany, entering and blockading several coal mines. People coming together from all over the world for the Ende Gelände movement, demanding that we “Break Free from Fossil Fuels”. Start Date: 2015EJO's:Ende Gelände.
“Break Free from Fossil Fuels”.
350.org.
Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung.Companies: NUON, RWE , EPH

Hambach forest occupation against brown coal mining, GermanyResistance: For five years, activists have fought for climate justice by occupying and building tree houses in the Hambach forest, which the energy company, RWE wants to tear down so that the brown opencast coal mine can be expanded. Start Date: 15/10/1978EJO's: Aktionsgemeinschaft der Bürgerinitiativen gegen die Verlegung der A 4;
Hambacher forst occupation movement;
BUND (friend of the earth Germany);
Greenpeace
Companies: RWE power, Kötter Security

Oil drilling in the National Park of Calilegua, ArgentinaResistance: Moblisation of various different social actors to stop the oil drilling activities in the Calilegua National Park. In spite of their opposition and against the envrionmental laws in force, the oil drilling license has been extended.EJO's: Greenpeace Argentina, Asociacion Trabajadores del Estado, Central de trabajadores Argentinos, Comisión Episcopal de Pastoral AborigenCompanies: Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales , Petro AP Company Limited, Jujuy Energía y Minería Sociedad del Estado Company

Protests and legal action against Fracking, Coahuila, MexicoResistance: No to fracking, not here, not anywhere, not now, not ever! Even the local concerns are focused on water and environmental impacts the actions of the Alianza Mexicana contra el Fracking are connecting the impacts of francking with the concerns of climate warming due to the leaks of methane produced during its extraction. These emissions can reach 8% of the total production of shale gas. Methane is a greenhouse gas with a potential warming of 86 times higher than CO2 in the short term.Start Date: 2013EJO's: Coalición de Organizaciones Mexicanas por el Derecho al Agua;
Fundar;
Greenpeace;
Asosciación de Usuarios del Agua
PRD political party has made anti-fracking statementsCompanies: PEMEX, Lewis Energy Group

Rampal Thermal Power Plant at Sundarbans, BangladeshResistance: Construction of 1320 MW proposed coal fired power plant by the Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company, a joint venture between Bangladesh and India, merely 14 km away from the ecologically sensitive Sundarbans forests has not only locals, but conservationaists and anti-coal activists all over the world united against it. There have been multiple mobilizations and protests across the world to prevent the construction of this plant. Start Date: 2010EJO's: National Committee on Protection of Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, BangladeshCompanies: Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company, North-West Power Generation Co. Ltd , National Thermal Power Corporation , Power Development Board, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd

PPT case: Shell oil exploration and extraction, NigeriaResistance: At the very roots of Blockadia, The Ogoni people vs. Shell is one of first cases of mass mobilisation to "keep the oil in the soil". Human rights violations and environmetal destruction caused mass mobilisation and international outcry. Decades later, justice has still not been served. Start Date: 01/01/1937EJO's: Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (Nigeria), Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieu Defensie), Global Campaign to Dismantle Corporate Power, Permanent Peoples TribunalCompanies: Royal Dutch Shell, Royal Dutch Shell

Shell's drilling for oil in the Arctic, Alaska, USAResistance: "You Shell Not Pass"! "Kayaktivists" formed a floating blockade to block Shell's drilling vessels, and environmental activists climbed aboard an oil rig to protest Shell's drilling in the Arctic. Street protests also brought together environmental and Indigenous activists in Washington State, in solidarity with the Indigenous peoples of Arctic Alaska. Start Date: 05/05/2009EJO's: Greenpeace.
Inuit Circumpolar Council.Companies: Shell Oil Company

Sindh Engro Coal Mining and Power Plant Project, Thar Desert, PakistanResistance: Pakistan is on its way to increase lignite mining, with 5 new power plants scheduled to start producing electricity by 2018, and many more in the pipeline. The Sindh Engro coal mining and power plant project in the Thar desert region of the country is a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The CPEC is a bilateral deal between the two countries under which the Chinese government and banks will financially support Chinese companies to build USD 45.6 billion worth of energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan over the next six years. This deal is being criticized by climate justice activists for the impact it will have on global carbon dioxide emissions. Chinese companies and their partners are expected to spend around $15 billion over the next 15 years to build close to a dozen coal power plants of varying sizes around the country.Start Date: 2015EJO's: Islamabad Sustainable Development Policy Institute.
Sindh National Front.
Thar Sujag Saath, Thar Voice Forum.
Villagers from affected villages.Companies: Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company, China Machinery Engineering Corporation , Engro Powergen Thar Limited

Statoil Deep Sea Oil Drilling, Aotearoa/New ZealandResistance: After massive opposition from all over New Zealand, the Norwegian oil giant Statoil pulls its operations out of Northland. Local people and communities as well as indigenous Māori (NZ)- and indigenous Sami people from Norway came together to show the need to leave oil under the soil (and sea) to prevent global warming. EJO's: Ahipara Komiti Takutaimoana
Greenpeace NZ
Te Rarawa Iwi and Hapu
Other Muriwhenua Iwi (Ngati Kuri, Te Aupouri, Ngai Takoto, Ngati Kahu)

Yasuni National Park - ITT oil extraction, EcuadorResistance: Cancelled by the Correa government in 2013, the Yasuni initiative is still one of the most inspiring social proposal to step out from extractivism and a call for the whole world to "yasunize" our territories.Start Date: 1992EJO's: Accion Ecologica, Amazonia por la Vida, Oilwatch, ONHAE, Huaorani people, Shuar, Quechua, A Sud and CDCA from ItalyCompanies: Perez Companc, Petroecuador, Petróleo Brasileiro S.A, Royal Dutch Shell